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The History of The Indiana Conference of the Church
of The United Brethren In Christ

Switzerland County [pages 233-235]

Union Chapel
There is a great deal of history connected with this church, for the reason that Union Chapel is a granddaughter of the first United Brethren Church that was organized in Switzerland County. In 1833 John G. Eckels organized the first United Brethren Church in this county which was located near the town of Bennington. It was known as the Bennington church for a number of years, then later they moved over near the little village of Aaron, and then in the course of years they moved to the present location, which is not far from Aaron. It was in the old Bennington Church community where the Chittenden family lived. It was here where Rev. Lyman S. Chittenden was born, and where he was converted and joined the church.

There were three families that were prominent in the United Brethren Church, and in the Indiana Conference; viz., the Chittenden, Richardson, and Cole families, and these were early settlers in the vicinity of Bennington. There were two out of the Chittenden family that became ministers in the United Brethren Church, four out of the Richardson family, and two out of the Cole family. Union Chapel has an honorable ancestry. In later years when Union Chapel was established, we find that Rev. J.J. Goodner was a product of this church. Union Chapel built their church house in about 1868. This church is still active, and it should live on through the years to come.

Mt. Zion
This church is southwest of Vevay several miles. It was first organized by Rev. Benjamin Abbott in 1843. They erected a stone church in 1849. The preacher in charge of the work at the time of building, was Rev. Jesse Scott. The church is rendering a greatly needed service to the community.

Markland
The United Brethren began operations near Markland in 1858, when Rev. Samuel Coblentz organized a society in the vicinity of Markland. In 1872 the Rev. J. D. Current began operating in the town of Markland, and about this time they secured a church property in the town. This church is in active service, and has a good following in the community. At the present time it is the most hopeful field for our church that we have within this county.

For a number of years we had a church society between Bee Camp and Union Chapel. It was named Hopewell, and it was organized by Rev. J. J. Goodner. If they had erected a church house, they no doubt would be in active service now, but they failed to furnish a church home for the people, and as a natural result the church could not live.

One thing should be mentioned concerning the church work in this county which gives us a good idea of the size, or extent, of a circuit back in 1848 to 1850. Bennington in this county was then a part of the old Newbern Circuit. Think of the "Circuit-rider" having to travel from Newbern in Bartholomew County, to Bennington in Switzerland County.

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Here are the lists of names from the Switzerland County United Brethren church that I was able to find from the church archives. I've included all the churches in the Vevay Circuit. The names listed were contributors to the church's Missionary Fund. The Minutes of the Annual Conferences go back to 1830, but these were the only references to Zion Church.

--Phil Jones

Minutes of the Seventy-Fifth Annual Session Indiana Conference
Of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, held at Marengo, Indiana

September 9-13, 1903 — E.B. Kephart, D.D., LL.D., Bishop

VEVAY CIRCUIT — J. M. Osborn, Pastor. [page 40]

Markland. — J. M. Osborn and wife, $3.15; B. H. North, C. Campbell each 1; J. Ricketts, M. North, M. Gullin, J. Scuder, each 50 cents; W. Semore, J. Colen, B. Moerilin, J. White, F . Bennett, M. Pealman, T. Bennett, J . Gullion, E. Bennett, J. North, J. Bennett, each 25 cents: collection, $2.30.

Zion. — O. Adams, E. Roberts, R. Brown, each 50 cents; J. Coveington, M. Works, A. Works, F. Pettett, E. Roberts, C. Roberts, B. Coveington, A. Webster, B. Cooper, C. Adams, each 25 cents; collection, 30 cents.

Otterbein. — G. Davis, G. Burnham, each $1; L. Henry, E. Adams, E. Sherman, J. Ashley, S. Reighborn, each 50 cents; T. Burnham; J. Jones, A. Patterson, J. Davis, R. Richards, each 25 cents; collection, $1.10.

Union. — S. Adams, $2: F. Cole, $1; J. S. Teel, H. Wycloe, each 50 cents; S. Johnson, Mrs. S. Johnson, I. Montooth, H. Montooth, A. Johnson, E. Adams, E. Richards, each 25 cents; P. Cole, 35 cents; collection, 55 cents. Grand total, $30.

Minutes of the Seventy-Sixth Annual Session Indiana Conference Of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, held at Medora, Indiana September 7-11, 1904 — E.B. Kephart, D.D., LL.D., Bishop

VEVAY CIRCUIT — C. C. BREDEN, Pastor. [page 50]

Otterbein Class. — G. Davis, $1; G. Burnham, L. Burnham, L. Henry, E. Adams, J. Ashley, each 50 cents; I. Burnham, M. Burnham, T. Burnham, E. Davis, J. S. Davis, each 25 cents; collection, $2.05. Total, $6.87.

Markland Class. — B. North, Mrs. K. Breden, each $1; C. Gillum, J. North, J. Gillum, Mrs. Funk, C. Miller, each 25 cents; collection, $4.29. Total, $7.64.

Union Class. — S. and F. Johnson, each 50 cents; L. Goodner, J. Steal, S. Cole, J. Cole, P. Cole, E. Cole, F. Cole, S. Goodner, each 25 cents; Scott Cole, 35 cents ; J. S. Cole, 40 cents; collection, $1.55. Total, $5.30.

Zion Class. — E. Roberts, 0. Adams, E. Meyers, M. Works, B. T. Heady, each 25 cents; collection, $1.18. Total, $2.43.

Hopewell Class. — C. C. Breden, $1; Mr. Lasenby, 25 cents; collection, $1.60. Total, $2.85.

Grand total, $25. Conference assessments, $29.40.

Minutes of the Seventy-Seventh Annual Session Indiana Conference Of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, held at Dale, Indiana August 30 to September 3, 1905 — G.M. Mathews, D.D., Bishop

VEVAY CIRCUIT — J. W. Settle, Pastor: [page 53]

Union Chapel. — S. B. Johnson, $1; P. Hinman, J. Cole, J. Kinder, P. Cole, R. Johnson, W. Day, M. Kinder, F. Johnson, F. Cole, S. Cole, each 50 cents; J. Goodner, I. Montwoth, E. Richards, J. Cole, Brother Sissen, N. Day, S. Goodner, L. Goodner, Mrs. Montwoth, each 25 cents; R. Montwoth, Miss Hinman, each 10 cents; collection, $1.39. Total, $9.84.

Markland Class. — B. H. North, $3; J. Ricketts, H. Scudder, J. Hannah, Mrs. North, each 50 cents; S. McClellan, G. Waltz W. McClellan, Mrs. Gullian, Mrs. Elsrod, Mrs. Bennet, J. Gullian, M. Gullian, C. Miller, B. Bennet, A. Rector, Mrs. Hannah, each 25 cents; collection, $1.88, Total, $10.88.

Zion Class. — Mrs. Tilla, Mrs. Roberts, each 50 cents; Mrs. Tingle, Mrs. Heady, E. Burnham, F. Turner, M. Works, Mrs. Works, G. Pavy, E. Roberts, each 25 cents. Total, $3.25.

Otterbein Class. — L. Henry, G. Davis, J. Ashley, each $1; G. Burnham, I. Gray, T. Bane, each 50 cents; T. Burnham, J. Patterson, J. Davis, Mrs. Burnham, Mrs. Eads, J. Bane, E. Smith, Mrs. Bane, Mrs. Ashley, each 25 cents; S. Lockridge, Mrs. Rozor, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Lockridge, Mrs. Prible, Mrs. Burnham, each 10 cents; J. Jones, A. Jones, each 15 cents. Total, $7.75.

Grand total, $49.16. Other collections, $17.44.

Minutes of the Seventy-Ninth Annual Session Indiana Conference Of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, held at Washington, Indiana September 4-8, 1907 G.M. Mathews, D.D., Bishop

VEVAY CIRCUIT — J. W. SETTLE, Pastor. [page 60]

Becamp Class. — For all purposes — George Davis, L. Henry, each [unreadable]; Ed. Adams, E. Gray, each $2.50; collections, $5.45. Total, $20

Union Class. — P. Hinman, F. Cole, each $1; S. Cole, 25 cents; (?)sel Winscot, 5 cents; collection, $25.69. Total, $27.99.

Markland Class. — S. Scudder, B. H. North, each $5; G.W. Waltz, $4; M. Ricketts, $2; M. North, M. Gullion, H. Scudder, J. Gullion, (?) Lindley, J. Ricketts, A. Onseilf, each $1; D. McClellan, M. Grimes, F. Bennett, each 50 cents; collection, $8.98. Total, $33.48.

Zion Class. — Ella Roberts, E. Brett, L. Brett, each $5; J. W. Settle, $5; E. Roberts, $2; W. Brett, Phoebe Brett, Susie Brett, Ella Tilla (?), Ed. Burnham, each $1; M. Works, 50 cents; Anna Works, Mrs. Furnish, Lucy Brett, Mr. Shelley, each 25 cents; collection, $5.43. Total, $28.93.

Other collections, $10. Grand total, $119.10.